Almost All is Lost In 1973 there were 46 boat builders in Costa Mesa California and 24,000 boats were produced. A year later that number shrank to 22. Today there are less than a handful. Nonetheless Costa Mesa California remains a Mecca for boat owners, a sacred historical place to any who ever owned or…
“It should be more like Formula One, where you have races all around the world and all the races count toward the Championship.” Larry Ellison in 10 March 2014 San Francisco Chronicle. Regattas all over the world, Louis Vuitton Cup then America’s Cup in Honolulu is the current Vision. AC45s followed by AC60s but…
Lady Washington On the east coast of the United States the warming and cooling land mass does not create winds that fully overcome the ocean weather or trade winds that a very tall mast can capture. Hence, for some commercial sailing vessels following the same courses trip after trip, the taller masts were desirable even though…
To legally change the name of a USA vessel, specific documentation and procedures must be followed. The process varies somewhat from state to state, but in general, the owner must present themselves in person or otherwise make arrangements at the USCG office or Maritime Documentation Center in their area. There are forms and a charge…
Airplane pilots are attracted to sailing because there are many skills that transfer between the two activities. For example, both require knowledge of navigation, weather, and wind patterns. Pilots can use their knowledge of aerodynamics to understand how to harness the power of the wind in sailing. Additionally, sailing can help pilots develop their situational…
A turnbuckle is a device used to adjust tension in standing rigging on sailboats and in garage doors openers. It consists of two screws, one with left-handed threads and the other with right-handed threads, that can be turned to adjust the length of the wire and hence the tension. Turnbuckles are the standard method for…
Pocket cruising is a term that applies to sail boats 27 foot and under. This is a challenging form of cruising owing to space limitations. For pocket cruisers, simple things make a big difference. Many of them are inexpensive. Over 15 years I find the following most valuable: 1. 2 gal water jugs I usually…
I have been asked many times for proof that the Murrelet can be considered ocean worthy. Until November of 2001, I was unaware that proof (outside of the mathematical ratios) existed. Because the uninitiated do not consider a trip across the English Channel, which is done by Mac26x boats, or a trip from Key West to…
The perfect blue water sailboat is a work in progress. Novice builders and beginning yacht designers have been trained in the US to accept the notion of a trade off between sea worthiness, comfort, performance and cost. This notion is prevalent on the east coast of the United States. The notion allows architects to rationalize…
The saying that there are two kinds of sailors, those who have run aground and those who will run aground, is comforting to those recently grounded. But grounding rarely involves shipwreck and, with modern electronics and reporting, the chances of being unintentionally grounded, let alone shipwrecked, are minuscule. This means that investigators must diligently research…